Aug. 3,] 



THE NEWSPAPER. 



{1844. 



jcarcityof others to take their places. Mr. O'Brien 

 iext rose to inform the meeting that Lord Wicklow's 

 letter relative to the non-attendance of Irish Members 

 ;n their places in Parliament had been taken into con- 

 sideration by the permanent committee, and they had 

 adopted an answer, which had been drawn up for them 

 by Mr. Davis, one of their members. The rule of not 

 attending Parliament was not a compulsory one ; they 

 did not insist upon any gentleman absenting himself from 

 either House, if he thought he could do more good for 

 Ireland there than in Conciliation Hall. But that was 

 not his opinion, with regard at least to himself. He 

 despaired of accomplishing anything useful for his 

 country in the British House of Commons, and he 

 therefore renounced it altogether. Having formed 

 this opinion, he had intended to resign his seat for 

 the county Limerick ; but having sounded his consti- 

 tuents on the subject, he found they were averse to it. 

 They were satisfied still to retain him as their representa- 

 tive, and therefore he intended to retain his seat. He 

 concluded by reading the reply to Lord Wicklow, which 

 denied the soundness of his Lordship's advice, and the 

 validity of the reasons by which he supported it. After 

 a long speech from Mr. Grattan, M.P., Mr. D. O'Connell, 

 Jun., made his usual weekly return from the prison, and 

 announced that his father and fellow-martyrs were in the 

 very best health and spirits. He then read the opinions 

 of his father on different topics, and a " Notice" from 

 the Marquess of Londonderry to the pitmen and colliers 

 on his Lordship's property, dated July 3. The meeting, 

 he said, would recollect that on the last day of meeting 

 the Rev. Mr. Hearne alluded to the matter. His 

 Lordship had been pleased to designate the Irish as 

 "foreigners," and he would call on the meeting to 

 remember that. The rent for the week was 1000/. 



Belfast. — The Robert Napier steamer, trading between 

 Londonderry and Liverpool, was destroyed by fire last 

 week while on her voyage, off Bally castle. The captain 

 succeeded in running her on shore, and the passengers 

 were saved, but all their baggage was consumed. 



Limerick. — On Monday morning Judge Kemmis pro- 

 ceeded to pass sentence on the convicted prisoners of 

 the past week. James Regan, Mary Burns, and Thomas 

 Looney, convicted of the Adare conspiracy and arson, 

 were put forward, and asked if they had anything to say 

 before sentence was pronounced. James Regan said 

 there were never so many witnesses seen on the table 

 befora as appeared against him, though it was not for 

 conscience sake they came forward, but to hang or 

 transport him if they could, when he was in a hobble. 

 If he was in the country as formerly, the very persons 

 that swore against him would, if he committed Whiteboy 

 offences, call him a H brave fellow, and a lover of his 

 country." He should inform his Lordship that he was 

 formerly a member of a Whiteboy society, which was 

 carried on by secret signs and pass-words ; while con- 

 nected with it, it was planned to assassinate Lord Dun- 

 raven, which would have been carried into effect were it 

 not for his informing the priest about it. The Judge 

 said the prisoners were convicted on testimony as satis- 

 factory as if the persons who swore against them saw 

 them commit the crime. They had for some time expe- 

 rienced the bounty of Government, having been sup- 

 ported as Crown witnesses. Finding their pursuits fail, 

 they engaged in a conspiracy of the blackest dye, in order 

 to advance their own interest, and that with a view of 

 swearing against innocent men, whose families and friends 

 would, perhaps, for ever have cause to bewail their loss. 

 He never heard the like of it. His Lordship, in conclu- 

 sion, said he would draw no distinction between the 

 prisoners in measuring punishment, and the sentence of 

 the court was, that they be severally transported for life. 



Mayo. — Martin Toolis and ten other natives of the 

 island of Achill, were called to the bar and arraigned for 

 administering an unlawful oath to Francis M'Hugh, on 

 the 6th of December last. The case was tried at the 

 last assizes, when the jury were discharged, without a 

 verdict being had, one juror having held out against 

 eleven, who were for acquittal. The traversers were 

 then discharged upon their own recognizances, to appear 

 again for trial if called upon, ten days' notice from the 

 Crown to be given them in case they should be again 

 required to attend. From the nature of the evidence 

 given upon the former trial, it was generally supposed 

 that the matter would be allowed to drop, but to the 

 astonishment of the poor peasants who were the subjects 

 of prosecution, they were almost at the last moment 

 served with notice to appear for trial at the present 

 assizes, in obedience to which they now appeared, and 

 were put on their trial. The colony of Achill is well 

 known to religious coteries in England, and has been 

 supported by large collections at Exeter Hall. The 

 prisoners were said to have conspired against the prose- 

 cutor, and the Rev. Mr. Naylor. Mr. Justice Jackson, 

 in charging the jury, described the prosecutor's story as 

 very improbable, and the jury without leaving the box 

 returned a verdict of " Not Guilty," which the Judge 

 said was a very proper verdict. 



Kerry.— On Sunday the Rev. Mr. Brasbie read his re- 

 cantation from Popery in Dingle Church. The fact of a 

 priest abjuring Popery caused great excitement, and the 

 magistrates having got full notice that the mob were deter- 

 mined to execute Lynch law on the priest, on his road 

 to the church, they took full precautions to preserve the 

 peace. A large body of Marines and Coast Guards were 

 present on the occasion, and no disturbance took place. 



glittering sand brought home by the crews of the different , May, Friday next. From Meshed I will write every- 

 ships from the neighbourhood of Ichaboe, and supposed A " r ""~ /c: JV T w " ' * 



to be gold. The great fortunes, however, that were ex- 

 pected to be made have ended in making good the trite 

 saying that " it is not all gold that glitters," the analysis 

 having shown that not a particle of gold is contained in 

 it. — The Forth and Clyde Canal Company are now 

 carrying passengers from Glasgow to Edinburgh for Is. 

 in the steerage, and Is. 6d. in the cabin. 



Ayr.— Great preparations are in progress for a festival 

 in honour of Robert Burns, to take place on the 6th 

 August, under the presidency of Lord Eglinton. The 

 Ayr town-council will join in the procession, and a large 

 assemblage of visitors is expected from all parts. 



SCOTLAND. 



Glasgow. — The importers of guano into the Clyde for 

 some weeks past have been interested by a quantity of 



Opening of a Tumulus. — A tumulus or barrow, called 

 East-low, and more generally by the rustics Essly-hill, 

 in the parish of Ringham, near Bury St. Edmund's, was 

 excavated and explored on the 4th ult. under the direc- 

 tion of the Rev. Professor Henslow. The hillock at its 

 base is about 90 or 100 feet in diameter, and its height 13 

 or 14 feet, covered on all sides with thorn-bushes, except 

 its summit, which has the appearance of a spacious har- 

 bour, accessible by several winding paths through the 

 dense thorn bushes. The tumulus is situate at the south- 

 eastern angle of the four crosswaysof a road, having to 

 the southward three other tumuli of smaller dimensions, 

 which had been opened at a former period. The excava- 

 tion was entered on the south side, the entrance being 

 protected by two upright pieces of timber supporting a 

 cross beam, to prevent the earth from falling ; the same 

 precaution was taken within the subterraneous passage, 

 as the work of excavation proceeded. At several yards 

 distance from the entrance was found the tomb or cham- 

 ber, built of flint and mortar, with rows of tiles at inter- 

 vals, about 12 feet long, and 4 £ feet wide. Around this 

 chamber was cut a complete passage, wider on the side 

 entered than on the other sides ; and at the north- 

 eastern corner of the excavation was cut a passage for 

 egress, by which means the visitors could pass round 

 with more convenience, or make their exit. The tomb or 

 chamber, which appeared exceedingly fresh and solid, 

 was broken open on the west side nearest the entrance, 

 and on the north side, and the chamber was found to con- 

 tain a leaden coffin, deposited as in a brick grave 

 at the present day. A complete arch was found a 

 little above the coffin, formed of Roman tiles intermixed 

 with much mortar, and then regularly covered with Ro- 

 man tiles, like the roof of a house. The leaden coffin was 

 6 feet 9 inches long, 1 foot 5 inches broad, and 1 foot 4 

 inches deep. It was formed out of a sheet of lead, by 

 turning up the sides and ends, as in making a box or tray 

 with a card. The edges were soldered on the inside ; 

 the lid was a loose sheet, also turned in at the edges, but 

 without soldering. When the lid was removed, there ap- 

 peared a skeleton, the skull-bone and some teeth in good 

 preservation. In the mouth, according to ancient cus- 

 tom, was an obolus, or piece of money, too much cor- 

 roded, probably, to ascertain its date. This was intended 

 to pay Charon, the grim ferryman of the Styx. At the 

 head, on the north side of the grave or chamber, and ad- 

 joining it, was a smaller chamber, perhaps about 2 feet 

 square, which had contained Lachrymatories or small 

 glass phials, supposed by some to be intended for holding 

 the tears of the mourners, but considered by Professor 

 Henslow as vessels for balms and balsams. The glass 

 was gone to dust, which appeared like so much salt lying 

 at the bottom of the chamber. Altogether the discovery 

 is one of much interest to antiquarians ; and Professor 

 Henslow appears disposed to consider that the skeleton 

 is that of the last owner of the Roman villa discovered 

 last year near the spot, and that the tomb was erected at 

 a late period of the Roman occupation of Britain, when 

 it had ceased to be the practice to burn the dead. 



Col. Stoddart and Capt. Conolly.— By the Levant 

 Mail we have the following letter addressed by Dr. 

 Wolff to Capt. G rover, containing a confirmation of our 

 worst fears with regard to the fate of Colonel Stoddart 

 and Captain Conolly. It is with deep regret we have to 

 announce that the death of both these gallant officers is 

 at length put beyond a doubt. They were executed at 

 Bokhara in the month of June, 1842. The following is 

 the letter : — " To Captain Grover. I write this letter in 

 the house of Nayeb Samet Khan, the chief of the artillery 

 and the arsenal of his Majesty the King of Bokhara, a 

 sincere and excellent friend of the British nation — but 

 in the presence also of his Majesty the Ameer's Mali ram 

 (private Chamberlain) — and I write this letter officially, 

 by order of the King of Bokhara, to whom I give a trans- 

 lation of the letter, and therefore confine myself only to 

 the most necessary topics, without comment and without 

 observation. On the 29th of April the King stated to 

 me, by the medium of the above-named Nayeb, and in 

 the presence of Mullah Kasem, the King's Mahram 

 (private Chamberlain), that he had put to death in the 

 month of Sarratan, 1259 (July 1842), Colouel Stoddart 

 and Captain Conolly. The first had been put to death : 

 — 1st, On account of his having treated royalty with the 

 greatest disrespect on different occasions. '2 J, That he 

 had turned Mussulman and then returned to the Christian 

 faith. 3d, That he had promised to get letters from 

 England in four months, by which he would be acknow- 

 ledged Ambassador from England, and 14 months had 

 elapsed without receiving any answer, though the King 

 had erected Japar Khans (post-houses) on his account. 

 And, with regard to Conolly. that he had been put to 

 death for having induced the Khans of Khiva and Kokan 

 to wage war against the King of Bokhara. His [™*JJ*tJ 

 ^has given me permission to leave Bokhara on the 9th of 



thing more fully. (Signed) Joseph Wolff. Bokhara, 

 May 5, 1844." Subsequent accounts state that the Bok- 

 haree Envoy, who, it was said, was to have accompanied 

 Dr. Wolff to England, had been arrested on his road 

 from Persia at Meshed, by the Ameer of that place, as a 

 hostage for the Doctor's safe delivery from the hands of 

 the Ameer of Bokhara ; and the latter, on hearing of 

 this act, had declared that the Englishman should not 

 depart until the Bokharee Envoy had b een set at liberty. 



Summer Assizes, Norfolk Circuit.— Ipswich.— Arson.— 

 As the principal trials at these assizes have been those for 

 arson, and as the circumstances which led to the crime have 

 been the subject ofVery general comment, it may be useful, 

 now that the trials are concluded, to give a concise summary 

 of the facts :— 1. Henry Sergeant, aged 21, a labourer of Bux- 

 hall, who can read and write imperfectly ; 2nd, Eliza Sery. t, 

 aged 22, his wife, who can read and write well ; and 3rd, Jamet 

 Rudland, who could read and write imperfectly, aged 53, 

 a labourer, and brother-in-law of the prosecutor, were charged 

 with having, at Buxhall, on the 2d of April, set fire to, and 

 burnt down a barn and stable, the property of John Barnes. 

 The bill against the woman was ignored by the grand jury, and 

 the two male prisoners were acquitted after a lengthened trial. 

 The summing up of Mr. Justice Williams left no one in doubt 

 as to his opinion of the guilt of the two men, but the jury re- 

 turned a verdict of acquittal. 4. Robert Roper, aged 15, could 

 neither read Dor write, a labourer of Gisli ogham, was charged 

 with having, at Gislingham, on the 9th March, set fire to a 

 stack of wheat, the property of the Rev. Thomas Collyer. The 

 evidence was defective ; but the case seemed much stronger 

 when the lad was apprehended than when he was tried, the 

 witnesses for and against him not adhering to their original 

 statements. Mr. Baron Alderson, without summing up, put it 

 to the jury to say if he need sum up at all, the case being so 

 very weak? The jury seemed determined to convict, and the 

 Judge had the greatest difficulty in proving to them that there 

 was no evidence against the prisoner; that where there. was a 

 doubt.it was the duty of a jury to give an accused person the 

 benefit of that doubt ; but in this case, he said, there was not 

 even a doubt. After giving the Judge much trouble, the jury 

 returned a verdict of not guilty, and the prisoner, with tears in 

 his eyes, asked the Judge, " whether he thought he did it ?'• 

 Baron Alderson said, " No, I do not think you did it." 5 . James 

 Smith, a farm. servant, aged 16, could neither read nor write, 

 was charged for having, on the 1st April, set fire to an outhouse, 

 which, together with a dwelling-house and other outhouses, 

 and seven cows and other animals, were consumed, the pro- 

 perty of Samuel Easthall, of Mendleshara. There was a con- 

 fession of the crime proved by a person to whom Smith con- 

 fessed j not, indeed, a faultless witness, for the Judge remarked 

 disparagingly on his evidence. Still, without his evidence, 

 there was quite as much to convict as in some other cases. 

 A verdict of not guilty was, however, returned. 6. James 

 Friend, a labourer, aged 27, could read and write imperfectly, 

 was charged with having, on the 8th May, sent a letter to Wil- 

 liam Cockrell, farmer, of Tunstall, threatening to set his pre- 

 mises on fire. The letter showed the cause of offence to have been 

 the employment of threshing-machines. Found guilty. Sen- 

 tence, transportation for 15 years. 7- William Cat ter mole, 

 bricklayer's labourer, could read and write imperfectly, charged 

 with having sent a letter to James Rose, threatening to burn 

 and destroy certain buildings and premises. This case was an 

 exception to the others, having been produced by the prisoner's 

 jealousy of a young man in Mr. Rose's employ, who was paying 

 court to a young girl more successfully than himself. Those 

 who heard the evidence had little doubt upon the question of 

 guilty or not guil'y; but the jttry delivered a verdict of not 

 guilty. 8. Frederick Barley, aged 18, a labourer, who could 

 read and write imperfectly, charged with having, on the lyth 

 May, set fire to and burned down one bean-stack, part of a 

 clover-stack, and part of a hay-stack, the property of Ambrose 

 Canler, of Stowmarket. Verdict, guilty. Transported for life. 



9. Jonathan Durrani, a labourer, aged 17, could neither read 

 nor write, charged with the same offence as Borley. Ac- 

 quitted j there being no evidence against him, but that of an 

 accomplice of Borley, named Williams, who stands con- 

 fessed to having been an accessory before the fact. 



10. Samuel Jacob, a shepherd, aged 428, could neither read nor 

 write, committed for having set fire to and burned down a barn 

 and othe^premises at Columbine Hall, parish of Stowupland, 

 the property of Lord Ashburnham, in the occupation of John 

 Boby. In this case also Williams was examined as a witness, 

 having alleged that Jacob made a confession to him in prison. 

 Jacob was convicted chiefly on this man's evidence} but the 

 Judge spoke of Williams as a man utterly worthless as a 

 witness. Jacob, however, was convicted on his evidence, and 

 sentenced to transportation for life. 1 1 . David Jackson, a farm 

 servant, aged 14, could read and write imperfectly, was charged 

 with having on the 3d June set fire to a barn, the property of 

 Charles Crooknell, of Redlingfield. This fire did not take effect, 

 a small portion of bean straw having been all that was burned, 

 together with a piece of timber scorched. It might have been 

 worse, and the prisoner, on being apprehended, said to the 

 policeman, in confessing that he did it, that he was very glad it 

 did not burn up. The lad had lived all his life on the farm, and 

 was on the be*t terms with his master, in whose house he was 

 boarded. He bore a good character, and bore nil master no 

 ill-will. But he had, on the Sunday before this attempt to fire 

 the barn, been talking with some people about the :uu mber of 

 » wonderful large fires there were," and he thought he won d 

 like to see one. He was found guilty, and sentenced to 15 

 years' transportation, with an intimation that he i ild be 

 Recommended to mercy, and sent to a place where he would be 

 edacTtcd and taught at e. IS. John Woods a farm servant 

 aged 16, could neither read nor write; charged with having set 

 n?e to .quantity of growing fane on the 1Mb o June, at Fox- 

 hall the q p^erty of Mark Major. Pleaded guilty ; sen ence- 

 "ix months' imprisonment, and to be once whippefl. 13. Ann 

 V-inninir a^ed 32, a married woman, could read and write 

 imDer ectlv, charged with having, on the 27th June, set fire to 

 the cottaae in her own occupation. Found guilty \ sentence- 

 two years' imprisonment. 14. James Thurt a shoemaker, 

 apparently 18 or 20, charged with setting fire to a quantity of 

 growing furze at Playford. Acquitted. 15. Kdmuud Botwright, 

 a blacksmith, aged 22, could read and write imperfectly, charged 

 with burning the premises of Hannah Watling, a widow, and 

 writing a threatening letter to her son. This man, though 

 called a blacksmith, was n-t a worker at the trade. He was 

 one of a desperate gang of poachers, who seldom worked at all. 

 Found guilty. Sentence— transportation for life, jo. JjJJJ 



•Wing, alias Osborne, a labourer, aged 22, could neither reaa 

 nor write, charged as an accessory to Botwrignt. acqui weu. 

 17. David Clow, a labourer, aged 40, could ne,tb ." ". FarB . 

 write, charged with having set fire to certain P r * mwe \" uitte d 

 ham, the property of Henry H offer, machine maker. - -4 f ^ m 

 on the ground of the fire being an accident, an s 



prisoner's drunkenness. 13. Hubert G"«* r *£2 with having 

 could read and write well, a linendr-per, c "r*vl burn certain 

 sent a letter to Sir J. R. Row fbrea tern - „ twAUt f sir 

 property in the occupation of W U»'*a» br ?7^ irers an increase 

 J. Rowley, if Mr. Brown did not give &»*« ., trAnSpo rtalion. 



of wages. Found guilt *" cnt * n 1 c !' co J a ;d neither read nor 

 10. William Hales, labourer, agea xu, *- ^ Dalhaai( lti the 



w^te, charged with tei J*™*? i OF erty of the Rev. Sir R. 

 ocfuiwtion of Thomas Moore, the prop« 7 





